To experience feelings of anxiety is a normal situation that happens to most people at some point. Learning how to manage these feelings before they snowball into something bigger is something you can benefit from in counselling.
Thoughts lead to feelings, and feelings lead to behaviour, so identifying and challenging your thought patterns and beliefs is also very important.
We will also look at dealing with anxiety using the body, breathing and tools like meditation. You don’t have to live with anxiety… tackle it, make a change today and improve your quality of life!
“Sessions with Catherine are so open and i have discovered so much about how to tackle anxiety head on instead of letting it overcome me . It’s a very comfortable space which allows me to be honest about how I struggle with the big things as well as the minor struggles. Would highly recommend sessions with Catherine if you need to talk to someone.”
“Catherine has helped me immensely with my anxiety. Thanks to her, I have learnt how to cope so much better with the daily stresses. I could not recommend Catherine more. The only regret I have is that I didn’t attend her sessions sooner”!
To start with, identify the times you get anxious and what causes you stress.
Are there things that make the situation better or worse? Are there things that make you feel more relaxed that you can do more of?
When people feel anxious they often forget about themselves. Eating healthy food and getting regular exercise will improve your health and wellbeing.
There are lots of ways to relax but some of us need to learn how. Different things work for different people, so you need to find what works for you.
Yoga, pilates and meditation are very popular. There are classes available in most towns. They’re not for everyone, and not the only way to relax.
Going for a walk, run with a friend or taking some time out for yourself are all methods of relaxing.
When you’re feeling anxious, remind yourself this is a feeling that will pass. Try to distract yourself by thinking about something different.
See if you can concentrate on your breathing, focusing your attention elsewhere.
Bottling things up can increase how anxious you feel. It can be hard but if possible talk to a friend, family member or a GP about what’s making you feel anxious.
The simple act of talking to someone outside the situation can help you to get some context on how you are feeling.
Changes in behaviour don’t happen overnight. But you can learn to manage feelings of anxiety and not let them take over.
Following the tips here will help and don’t forget to reach out to someone to talk about it.
If you’re feeling so anxious that it’s impacting on your day-to-day life, you might need some extra support. See face-to-face help to see who you can talk to if you decide you want outside help.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been found to be effective in helping people manage anxiety.
CBT helps you manage problems by thinking more positively. It frees you from unhelpful patterns of behaviour.
People like your local GP or a counsellor/psychotherapist can help you. If they can’t, then they may refer you to a specialist.